Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting

Scores gathered Wednesday night to watch the annual lighting ceremony for the 80-year-old spruce at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The 45,000 lights on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce were lit during a celebration televised on NBC and hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Props are put into place ahead of the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. After two weeks of preparation, the 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot high Norwegian spruce Wednesday evening. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Salvation Army volunteer Jessie Rock dances for donations as preparations are made for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Tourists snap photos as preparations are made for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Props are put into place as preparations are made for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Props are put into place as preparations are made for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Props are put into place as preparations are made for the annual televised lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Preparations are made for the annual televised lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

The Christmas tree at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center awaits lighting Wednesday afternoon. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening during a celebration televised on NBC and hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Sheila Hogue, a tourist from Pensacola, Fla., snaps photos as the Christmas tree at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center awaits lighting Wednesday afternoon. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening during an annual celebration televised on NBC and hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

The Christmas tree at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center awaits lighting Wednesday afternoon. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening during a celebration televised on NBC and hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie. The tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Police stand ready for crowd control at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening, and the tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Preparations are made at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening, and the tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Doormen stand by as preparations are made at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening, and the tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Preparations are made at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening, and the tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Preparations are made at Manhattan's Rockefeller Center for the annual televised lighting of the Christmas tree. The 45,000 lights will be lit on the 80-foot-high Norwegian spruce in the evening, and the tree will remain lit every evening until Jan. 7. (Nov. 28, 2012)

Volunteers of America Santas walk past the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree during their 110th annual Sidewalk Santa Parade. The donations they raise are used for a holiday food voucher program for needy residents. (Nov. 23, 2012)

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Photographers document the Swarovski Star that was attached to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The star consists of 25,000 crystals with 1 million facets, is 9.5 feet in diameter and weighs 550 pounds. (Nov. 20, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Workmen attach the Swarovski Star to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The star consists of 25,000 crystals with 1 million facets, is 9.5 feet in diameter and weighs 550 pounds. (Nov. 20, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Detail of the Swarovski Star that was attached to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. (Nov. 20, 2012)

Workers prepare the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree before standing it up in New York City. The tree, an 80-year old Norway Spruce, was donated by Joe Balku of Flanders, New Jersey. It weighs approximately 10 tons, measures 80 feet tall and is 50 feet in diameter. (Nov. 14, 2012)

(Credit: Getty Images)

Joe Balku, who donated the tree, drives a stake into the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree before workers stood it up on in New York City. The tree, an 80-year old Norway Spruce, was donated Balku of Flanders, New Jersey. It weighs approximately 10 tons, measures 80 feet tall and is 50 feet in diameter. (Nov. 14, 2012)

(Credit: AP)

Crews use a crane to hoist a 80 ft. tall, 50 ft. diameter, 10-ton Norway Spruce tree from its base at the home of Joseph Balku in Flanders, N.J.. The tree will be laid onto a flatbed truck and transported to New York City where it will be this years Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. (Nov. 13, 2012)

(Credit: AP)

Crews cut down an 80 ft. tall, 50 ft. diameter, 10-ton Norway Spruce tree that will this years Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at the home of Joseph Balku in Flanders, N.J.. The tree survived the winds of Superstorm Sandy that left a path of destruction in this New Jersey town and left Balku without electricity for weeks. (Nov. 14, 2012)